Rush prepare for first season.

RAPID CITY, SD – The expansion Rapid City Rush are busy making preparations for the start of their first CHL season. They currently have 14 signed to their roster, including their most recent addition, former CHL All Star defenseman Gio Flamminio. Flamminio  spent last season in the ECHL playing with the Mississippi Sea Wolves, where he registered 30 points (6, 24) in 67 games. Prior to his season with the Sea Wolves,  Flamminio spent two seasons in the CHL, both with the Oklahoma City Blazers. In his 117 CHL games, Gio posted 47 points and 129 penalty minutes. In his rookie season with  the Oklahoma City Blazers , Flamminio was named to the CHL All Star Team. His experience will help the young team as they enter their first CHL campaign.   The first season of any expansion team can be difficult, but Rapid City will have a large hurdle to over come during the first few weeks of their first CHL season. They will need players that have the experience and work ethic that Flamminio does to help keep this young team focused. As the Rush await the completion of the expansion of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, they will find themselves homeless for the first few weeks of the season. The Rapid City Rush will begin their first CHL season by playing the Colorado Eagles on October 17th.  Starting any season on the road is tough, but for the Rush, this game is not only their first regular season game in team history, but the first game in a 14 game road schedule. The Rush will play all of their first 14 regular season games on the road. And will also be on the road for their two pre season games, making the first 16 games the Rush have all on the road.   The home of the Rush is the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City South Dakota. A new expansion arena is being added to house the Rush. It will be finished in late November, and the Rush will play its first home on the 29th of November against the Colorado Eagles. Once  the expansion project is complete, and they have moved into their new home, their schedule will get better. Nineteen of their next twenty three games will be on home ice. It will be a welcome change for the Rush, but the first 14 games will be a difficult start for the expansion team.
Contact the author at buck.pettry@prohockeynews.com.